Hoyer Statement on Introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement after the Respect for Marriage Act, of which he is an original cosponsor, was introduced by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY) today:

“I am proud to join Rep. Nadler in introducing the House version of the Respect for Marriage Act today. This morning, the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), but the remainder of that discriminatory law will continue to prevent married same-sex couples from having their unions respected when they move or travel to states where such marriages are not performed. Our bill would repeal the remainder of DOMA and require that all fifty states respect marriages performed legally in other states.

“This is a basic matter of fairness and equality, and at stake is whether our country will live up to the principles our Founders set forth in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. For LGBT Americans and their loved ones, there ought to be no doubt that full equality can and will be achieved, and today’s rulings prove that justice always prevails in America. Though we have witnessed a milestone on the journey toward full equality, more work remains, and I will continue to lend my energy, my voice, and my abiding faith in America’s promise to our common task of completing that work.”